Are you looking for the perfect activity to do at home with friends or family? Then you have to invite them to a cheese tasting! Tasting and discussing different cheeses, together with delicious accompaniments and maybe a glass of wine, will surely be an evening to remember.
Here we have created the perfect guide for a successful cheese tasting at home. Scroll down and check out our best tips!
6 tips for a successful cheese tasting
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Choose several delicious cheeses
The most important thing for a successful cheese tasting is to try several different varieties. Choose 4-6 different cheeses with varying flavors and textures – mild, aged, and preferably one a bit spicy. Not everyone has to love every type, but the variety makes the tasting more fun and flavorful.
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Take the cheeses out in time
Cheese tastes best at room temperature. Therefore, take them out at least an hour before serving. When the cheese is too cold, not all flavors come through properly, which means you won’t get the full taste experience.
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Set up a luxurious cheese platter
Serve the cheese on a cheese board and cut the cheeses into portions so everyone has a chance to taste. Feel free to use a cheese knife or cheese fork for serving.
A beautiful presentation gives the feeling that you and your guests are at a restaurant. Arrange the cheeses on a nice cheese board and cut smaller portions so everyone can easily taste. Feel free to use a cheese knife or cheese fork to make it both easy and elegant.
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Taste the cheese in the right order
Taste the cheese in the right order to get the best flavor experience. Always start with the mildest cheese and finish with the strongest flavored ones. This way you get to experience all the flavors without a strong cheese overpowering too much.
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Don’t forget the accompaniments for the cheese board
Cheese is fantastic on its own, but don’t forget the accompaniments. Try each cheese as it is and then try with different accompaniments like marmalade, crackers, or fruit. Good accompaniments to the cheese can enhance the entire tasting. Here you’ll find more tips on tasty snacks and canapés.
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Pair the cheese with a suitable drink
The right drink can really enhance the flavors of an already good cheese. Have both white and red wine ready. Fresh white wines go well with mild cheeses while a red wine often suits aged varieties better. Unsure? Feel free to ask in the store which wine pairs best with the cheeses you have chosen.
Common questions and answers before a cheese tasting at home
What do you put on a cheese board?
A good cheese board contains both soft and hard cheeses with mild and spicy flavors. A classic cheese board can include:
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Chèvre or other goat cheese
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White mold cheese like Brie or Camembert
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Blue mold cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort
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Hard cheese like Manchego, Kaltbach, or Gruyère
Feel free to combine with marmalade, crackers, and grapes for the perfect cheese board.
How much cheese per person do you have on a cheese board?
About 150-200 g of cheese per person is suitable for a cheese board or cheese tasting. With 4-6 different varieties, you get the chance to taste different types.
Which marmalade suits a cheese board?
Mild cheeses become extra delicious with fig, pear, or apricot marmalade while hard cheeses often go better with tangy flavors like apple or cherry. Blue mold cheeses often pair well with sweeter marmalades made from fig, dates, or orange.
Which wine suits a cheese board or cheese tasting?
Fruity wines balance the bitterness of the cheeses, while saltiness enhances the wine’s sweetness and makes the flavor fruitier. The cheese can also enhance the wine’s buttery notes and give a fuller taste. Fatty cheeses can make the wine milder by softening the tannins, making it less astringent. Also keep in mind that sweet accompaniments can make dry wines more astringent, so feel free to get help when choosing wine.
Psst! Why not also take the opportunity to try some different wines that might suit your cheese tasting? Read more about how to do a fun wine tasting at home!